Though the Laguna Madre lagoon is all that separates it from southwest Texas's mainland, South Padre Island still feels like a far-off natural paradise. There, along its narrow beachfront, you’ll find 300 types of waterfowl, 40-foot sand dunes, and rare kemp's ridley sea turtles. The Suites at Sunchase puts you in the middle of this relaxed, exotic getaway, just a five-minute walk from the Gulf of Mexico and a few blocks away from the Laguna Madre bay.

After exploring the barrier island, you can retreat to the spacious guest rooms, which have flat-screen TVs and additional sleeper sofas. Further refresh at the onsite spa or indulge in a manicure at the nail salon. At night, you can dance at the Casablanca Club, which is open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

While at the hotel, guests should be sure to take advantage of the spectacular natural setting at nearby surf spots and scuba-diving sites. Head out on a deep-sea-fishing trip to catch marlin and flounder, or simply kick back in hotel’s outdoor pool and hot tub.

South Padre Island, Texas: Vibrant Marine Life and Educational Centers

South Padre Island isn't actually an independent island—it's the name given to the resort town on the southernmost point of Texas’s much larger Padre Island, which stretches nearly 130 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. The town is linked to mainland Texas by a single bridge, the Queen Isabella Causeway. Because it occupies such a narrow stretch of land—at its broadest point, South Padre Island is only a few blocks wide—getting from the Gulf on the east side to Laguna Madre on the other takes only about 10 minutes on foot. Many visitors spend their vacations on the area’s sandy beaches. Others set sail on fishing charters to seek out swordfish, redfish, and spotted seatrout.

For a better understanding of the area's history and culture, head across the causeway to the Museums of Port Isabel. The complex encompasses three facilities, including one that showcases the artifacts found in three 1554 Spanish ships that sunk about 30 miles north of Port Isabel. Another, the Port Isabel Lighthouse, was built in 1852 when the low-lying Texas coast presented visibility problems to incoming ships. Today, you can climb a spiral staircase to the top for views of the causeway, Laguna Madre, and Port Isabel's historic downtown.

On the northern end of South Padre Island at Sea Turtle, Inc., you can observe endangered kemp's ridley sea turtles, which the organization rescues, rehabilitates, and releases at nearby beaches. Ila Fox Loetscher, affectionately known as "The Turtle Lady," founded the nonprofit organization in 1977 after spending more than 10 years rehabilitating sea turtles in her South Padre Island home.